Moon Pie wiggled in Quinn’s lap.
“Go meet him, Moon Pie!” Quinn said. He pushed the little pug toward the new dog. It was clear that Moon Pie was thrilled that he was no longer the smallest member of the pack.
“I’m Moon Pie,” he said. He puffed his chest out, took one step toward Percy, then glanced at Gus.
“Well, hi, Moon Pie! I like your name a lot,” said Percy. He crouched down and sprang at Moon Pie. “I like the moon. And pies. Who doesn’t like pies? Do you guys like pies? I do!”
Moon Pie didn’t join in Percy’s game. Gus suddenly realized that the pack was waiting for him. He had been so taken with the chatty little dog that he had forgotten his job.
“Looks okay to me,” Tank said.
“He seems okay to me, too!” Roo said. “A little hyper, maybe—”
Percy was looking at Gus with big, dark eyes. He smelled of goodness and fairness and fun. He was exactly what the pack needed. Gus knew this. His deep-down dogginess was certain of it.
Gus gave his approval—one small woof and a quick wag.
“Hooray!” said Moon Pie. He danced in front of Percy, who wiggled his butt in the air and barked. Roo gave Percy a friendly nip before chasing him.
“Glad that’s over with,” Tank said. He chugged over to a sunny spot on the blanket and plopped down on it.
“Looks like they’re all getting along!” Miss Lottie said. She dug around in one of the coolers until she found a bottle of water. She twisted the cap off, took a big gulp, and sat down next to Quinn. “How’s the work going on the treehouse?” she asked.
“Good,” said Quinn. “We’re almost finished. Jessie’s making the ladder for it right now.”
“That’s wonderful,” Miss Lottie said. She took another gulp of water. “I bet you two will have lots of fun in it.”
Gus wandered over to Quinn and sat down next to him. Quinn smiled.
“I’ve got something for you, Gus,” he said. He dug into his backpack and pulled out a new tennis ball. “Go get it!”
Quinn tossed the ball to Gus, who jumped up and caught it in midair. He jogged back to Quinn and dropped the ball by his feet.
“Nice job!” Quinn said. “Okay, let’s see if you can get this one.” He grunted as he threw the ball over a clump of trees. Gus watched the ball arc through the air before chasing it.
As soon as he turned the corner, he skidded to a stop.
He was there. Just a few feet away.
Decker.
An old man was sitting on a bench. Decker sat facing him with his chin resting on the old man’s leg.
At first Gus wasn’t sure if it was really him. He had gained weight. His coat looked thicker. And he was wagging his tail, something Gus had never seen him do before.
But his smell was what really struck Gus. He still had that strange, watery scent, but it was different now, more like a bowl of water that had been warmed by the sun.
“You’re such a good boy, Decker,” said the old man. He stroked Decker’s ears. “A good, good boy.”
Decker glanced over at Gus. He stopped wagging his tail and raised his head. He stared at Gus long and hard.
Gus tensed, but Decker only thumped his tail on the ground once, softly.
Gus dipped his head and wagged his tail.
So there was a good dog in Decker, buried deep inside the hard, frightened shell. That goodness just had to be let out in a safe place where there was lots of love. Gus craved the liveliness of a big pack, but a pack of two was perfect for Decker. He could get the love he so desperately needed and not have to share.
Gus heaved a long, slow, contented sigh before grabbing the tennis ball in his teeth and running back to the others.
“This,” said Miss Lottie, holding her arms up to the sky. “This is the kind of day dreams are made of. A perfect, perfect day.”
Gus dropped the ball and trotted over to her. He nestled into her lap, which he hadn’t done in ages. He felt the perfectness of the day, too, the kind of day they had both been waiting for, and wanted to share it with her.
Tank wandered over to them, then Roo, then Moon Pie. They all snuggled around her. Percy hesitated, then curled up next to Moon Pie.
Miss Lottie reached over and held Quinn’s hand.
“Do you feel it, Quinn?” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “The perfectness of this day?”
Quinn blushed. “I do,” he said quietly.
Gus sighed. It wasn’t just the perfectness of the day, with its soft breezes and springtime scents, although that was part of it.
Gus knew that what they were really feeling, right then and there, on that perfect, warm, spring afternoon, was love.
Acknowledgments
I’m so grateful to be part of a brilliant and supportive pack of writers who read draft after draft of this book. As always, big tail wags and slurpy kisses to Sarah Aronson, Brenda Ferber, Jenny Meyerhoff, and Laura Ruby. I couldn’t do it without you guys!
Huge thanks to Stephanie Fretwell-Hill, my agent and fairy godmother, whose doggedness gave me hope at a time when I really needed it. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your hard work on my behalf.
And to Kristin Daly Rens, the most amazing and warmhearted editor a writer could ever ask for. You made this book so much better with your wise and insightful comments. Thank you for gently pushing me to dig deeper. Your dog gift is love!
About the Author
Photo by Jerry Ortega
CAROLYN CRIMI received her MFA in writing for children from Vermont College in 2000. She has published over fifteen books, including Dear Tabby, Don’t Need Friends, Boris and Bella, Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies, Where’s My Mummy?, and I Am the Boss of This Chair. Her book There Might Be Lobsters won the Golden Kite Award in 2018 for Picture Book Text, and her middle grade debut, Weird Little Robots, was named a BEA Book Buzz pick. Carolyn has received over thirty state awards and award nominations and was given the Prairie State Award in 2012 for her body of work.
You can visit Carolyn at www.carolyncrimi.com.
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Copyright
Balzer + Bray is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Cover art © 2021 by Melissa Manwill
Cover design and lettering by Molly Fehr
* * *
Digital Edition JULY 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-298920-8
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-298918-5
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2122232425PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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